Aim:

In this study it was aimed to measure levels of “abstaining from death and dying patient attitude” in undergraduate students of Ankara University School of Medicine (AUSM). Referring the data collected, the effect of professional education conducted in AUSM was discussed in terms of “approach to death and dying patient”.

Tools and Methods:

This study is a cross-sectional research conducted on Grade 1, 3, 5 and 6 medical students of AUSM in the academic year 2010-2011. The “Approach to Death and Dying Patients Attitude Scale” (ADDPAS) was used as the measurement tool. Medical students’ “hardness in communicating with the dying and her relatives” and “avoidance of death and the dying” levels were examined on the bases of grade, gender, experience of death of a parent or sibling, and whether the participant has taken part in the care of a dying person.

Findings:

There is no difference between “avoidance of death and the dying” levels of students in different grades. In terms of the “hardness in communicating with the dying and her relatives” dimension Grade 6 students’ points are lower than of those who are in previous grades. While points of female students in Grade 1, 3 and 5 are higher than the points of male students in the same grades with regard to the hardness in communication, there is no difference in terms of gender between Grade 6 students. Levels of both hardness in communication and avoidance are lower in students who took part in the care or monitoring of a dying patient or who experienced death of a parent or a sibling.

Results:

Overall results can be interpreted that the professional education conducted in AUSM does not have any attitude-changing effect on students’ approach towards death, dying patients and their relatives. The students keep the same levels of “abstaining attitude” they had before entering medical school while graduating from there. According to this picture, it is obvious that a comprehensive education program specific to the issue of “approach to death and dying patient” is an urgent necessity for AUSM.

Keywords: Death, dying patient, thanatophobic attitude, medical education, ADDPAS